Vucic, Dodik discuss "Bosnia's EU path, relations in region"

Vucic, Dodik discuss "Bosnia's EU path, relations in region"

BELGRADE -- Serbia believes that Bosnia-Herzegovina "should be on the EU path, and will back it along that road,"Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday.

Speaking after meeting with the leader of the Serb entity in Bosnia (RS), Milorad Dodik, he added that "it would have been good if Dodik had been consulted concerning the recent joint statement by the Bosnian Presidency relating to the country's EU aspirations."

"Serbia does not interfere in affairs of other states, but we have seen that there are things which are acceptable there (in the Presidency's statement), some are not, and that is all I can say," Vucic said at a joint press conference.

In the joint statement that the Bosnian Presidency issued on reforms and political leaders' commitment as part of the process of joining the EU, there are many things that are not contentious, and some that are, which could be resolved in the near future, Vucic said.

In his reply to the same question, Dodik said that the statement had not been drafted by the Bosnian Presidency, but rather "someone from the European Commission wrote that".

Underscoring that this is his key objection, Dodik said that the document envisages the transfer of powers to Bosnia-Herzegovina in six areas of competence, and that is why he is "so strongly against" the statement.

The Bosnian Presidency's statement should be harmonized and signed by 12 leaders of political parties this month.

Following that, the document would be sent to the Bosnian parliament for confirmation.

The RS president said previously that he would not sign such a statement, as the Bosnian Presidency expanded the list of...